Can-opening machine.



D. c GOODALE. CAN OPENING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Jl JLY 12. I916.

Patented Mar. 13,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

1 INVENTOR. .Dexler C. Goodale W I TNESSES:

I ATTORNEY.

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A TTOR NE Y.

D. C. GOODALE.

CAN OPENING MACHINE.

APPLICATXON FILED JULY 12 1.916.

VIIIIIIIIIIIl/l) WITNESSES:

DEXTER c. GOODALE, on em. LOUIS, ivrrssoiiiir. i

CAN-OPENING MACHINE.

Application filed July 12, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Dnx'rnn C. GoonALn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in CanOpening Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in can opening machines and more particularly to machines of this class adapted to open cylindrical cans or tins containing meats, soups, vegetables, preserves and the like.

In my improved machine, a tiltable plate is pivotally mounted upon a suitable support or standard and carries a manually operated cutting mechanism and a gripping mecha nism for clamping the can to the plate in position to be operated upon by the cutting mechanism.

The objects of my invention are to provide a machine of this character suitable for hotels, restaurants, boarding houses, and similar establishments where a quantity of cans are opened daily, and which will expeditiously open a large number of cans in quick succession; to so arrange the various mechanisms that they can be rapidly and conveniently operated and to so make and construct the parts that the machine will be simple, and reliable, and of substantial and durable structure.

The above and other objects, I achieve as hereinafter set forth in the following description, and as particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which an em bodiment or adaptation of my improved can opening machine is illustrated;

In the drawings Figure 1 is a central vertical section on line AA Fig. 2 through my improved ma chine. v

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my improved machine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the cutting; knife of my machine.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation of my improved machine with the pivoted top plates tilted to their nearly vertical position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the side disk, the adjusting gear lever and its locking lever taken on line BB Fig. 4.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 13, 1317.

Serial No. 108,798.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the central portion of the top plates and their connecting mechanism taken on line A'A Fig. 2.

Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged detail views of one of the clamping blocks.

In referring to the embodiment or adaptation of my improved" can opening machine shown in the accompanying drawings in detail, like numerals designate corresponding or similar parts or elements.

My improved can opening machine comprises a suitable support or standard, a plate pivoted at its edge to the upper extremity of the support, can clamping mechanism carried by the plate, cutting mechanism also carried by the plate, a side lever for operating the can clamping mechanism mounted on the edge of the plate and a top lever for operating the cutting mechanism having its inner extremity operatively arranged and supported above the center of the plate.

The support or standard, 1, is adapted to be suitablyv secured to a table or the like, from which it extends vertically upward and it has a base, 2, through which screws, 3, or other fasteners are fitted to secure the support rigidly, in place, two pivot ears, 4, at its upper extremity andtwo arms, 5, which extend horizontally out from opposite sides of the topof the standard and curve forwardly.

A plate, 6, upon which the clamping and cuttingmechanisms, and the various component parts of said mechanisms are arranged is provided at its periphery with pivot ears 7 and is pivotally mounted on the upper extremity of the standard by fitting a pivot, 8, through the ears 4 and 7;

, This plate, 6, which I will hereinafter designate as the lower plate in some instances to distinguish it from another plate located above it, is of a flat circular disk like form and is provided with radial slots, 9, at regular intervals which extend from points without the center of the plate 6, and through the periphery of the disk like plate and constitute slide ways.

In the present adaptation of my invention, three of the radial slots 9 are shown but the number may be greater or less if desired.

The plate, 6, is not rotatable but is tiltable, being adapted to be turned down to a horizontal position in which it is supported by the oppositely curved horizontal arms, 5, or up into an approximately perpendicular position.

In each of the slots, 9, is slidably fitted a clamping block, 10, which is provided with opposite side grooves, 11, in which the side margins of the slots extend, a depending gripping jaw, 12, having a concaved inner surface-and an adjustable screw prong, 13, and an upstanding pin, let.

The peripheral edge of the plate, 6, is in part toothed as shown at 15 in Fig. 1-.

Above the plate, 6, is arranged an upper plate 16, so as to partially rotate thereon, Flld said plate is provided with curved cam lots, 17, equal in number to the clamping )lCCkS, in each of which the upstanding pin, 1 of one of the clamping blocks slidably projects.

The upper plate is separated slightly from the lower plate by spacing strips, 18, and is of a corresponding flat circular form with the exception that from one side a curved enlargement, 19, extends laterally out which carries a bearing opening in which a short shaft, 20, is mounted upon which the inner extremity of a side lever 21, is supported.

This side lever is adapted to partially rotate the upper plate and thereby radially adjust the clamping blocks, and it is provided with a rack of teeth, 22, which curve around its inner end and mesh with the teeth, 15, on the edge of the lower plate.

The upper projecting portion of the shaft, 20, is screw-threaded and a locking lever, 23, has an enlarged plate disk-like inner extremity, 2 1, which screws upon said screw- 7 threaded portion of the shaft and frictionally locks the side lever in its adjusted position.

The teeth of the side lever may be disengaged from the teeth, 15, by moving the lever closely against the edge of the lower plate. The object of this is to facilitate the adjustment of the lever, upper plate and clamping blocks.

To limit the unscrewing movement of the locking lever, 23, a screw, 25, or the like is removably fitted in the outer end of said lever which forms a depending stop that strikes against the side lever as shown in Fig. 1

When it is desired to detach the locking lever by unscrewing it from the shaft, this screw, 25, has to be removed.

The mechanism for cutting the can and thereby opening the same is arranged at the center of the lower plate, 6, and the clamping blocks are located at regular intervals around a circle which is concentric with the cutting mechanism so that a circular plate like portion is cut from the top of the can which is centered within the surrounding circular side margin thereof.

The lower plate, 6, has a central vertical upwardly extending tubular portion forming a bearing, 26, which is internally screwthreaded and a shallow circular recess, 27, is cut on the under surface of the plate concentric with the bearing, 26.

A tubular shaft or sleeve, 28, which is externally screw-threaded is fitted in the bearing, 26, and adapted to have both a revoluble and a vertical up or down movemeut in said bearing.

On the lower end of the shaft, 28, is rigidly mounted a fairly thick flat circular disk, 29, which is provided with a slot eX- tending radially through the same from side to side thereof. I

This slot is made with its upper and lower walls slightly diverging so that it gradually deepens from one end to the other, and its' side walls narrow, parallel and slightly tapering so that the slot is straight; of even width throughout and varies slightly in thickness.

A knife is slidably arranged in the slot and consists of a lower strip, 80, of suitable metal, the cutting knife, or blade proper, 31, which is of atapering form or in the shape of a V with the side edges sharpened depends vertically from one end of the strip, 30, and an upper strip, 82, which is riveted or otherwise secured to the other end of the strip, 30, opposite the depending knife blade, 81.

The upper strip is preferably made thinner than the lower strip and of suitable spring metal and is so secured to the lower strip that it will spring slightly from said lower strip as shown in Fig. 8.

By this means the knife is frictionally held within the slot with sufficient tension to prevent rotation of the hollow shaft or gravity changing its position, but at the same time has a fairly easy sliding movement in said slot when desired.

The free end of the upper strip is bent vertically up to form a short extension or lug, 33, the purpose of which will be explained farther on,

An angular stop for limiting the upward movement of the can toward the plate, 3, when the can is placed in position to be clamped to said plate is arranged upon the lower extremity of the hollow shaft and comprises a central horizontal portion, 34, having a central opening through which the tubular shaft loosely passes and two oppositely located vertically depending end portions, 35.

The central portion, 34, is fitted in the shallow recess, 27, on the bottom of the plate, 6, so as to turn therein and is held in place by an annular locking ring, 36, which is removably fastened by screws to the under surface of the plate, 6.

The tubular shaft is internally screwthreaded and a solid shaft, 37, which is externally screw-threaded is adapted to revolve and screw within said tubular shaft as shown in Fig. 1.

A hand lever, 38, has its inner end detachably secured upon the upper end of the shaft, 37, by a lock nut, 39, and extends laterally out from said shaft and over the upper plate.

The tubular shaft is provided with notches, 40, in its top edge and the inner end of the lever with depending projections, 41, which engage in these notches when the solid shaft, 37, is screwed sufficiently down in the tubular shaft and thus locks the tubular shaft to the lever so that both shafts revolve in unison.

A stop, 42, is provided to limit the unscrewing rotation of the cutting mechanism in a direction contrary to the cutting direction and an inner enlargement, a3, is formed on the clamping block on one side of a line in radial alinement with this stop which is provided with a bottom groove, 4L1, in which the extension or lug 33, of the cutting knife is adapted to slide to 10 k the knife to the clamping block.

c e The upper plate 1s s cured 1n place ovei the lower plate by a collar, 45, which is fitted upon the bearing, 26, and fastened in place by a set screw, 46.

The side lever is preferably provided with a downwardly depending turning knob, 17, and the central lever with an upwardly extending knob, 48, but these knobs may be omitted if desired and suitable hand grasping portions formed on the outer ends of the levers.

The lower plate is provided with two oppositely located depending lugs, 49, which lap on opposite sides of the outer extremities of the curved arms and hold the plate in its horizontal position against lateral movement.

The center bearing, 26, is provided with a vertical lug or enlargement, 50, on its top edge which forms a stop against which the lever, 38, strikes when at the limit of its rotation in a cutting direction, thereby stopping the cutting mechanism.

The operation of my improved can opening machine is substantially as follows:

The cutting mechanism is turned to a position to bring the extension or lug, 33, of the cutting knife into locking position with respect to the groove, 5%, in the inner enlargement, 48, on the clamping block.

The plate is turned on its pivot to its perpendicular position, a can is inserted between the gripping jaws of the clamping blocks and the side lever is manipulated to partially rotate the upper plate and by means of the cam slots force the clamping blocks inwardly in the radial slots to grip the can and thereby lock it to the lower plate, as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be noted by referring to Fig. 1, that the can is hung pendant from the under surface of the lower plate to which it is secured by the clamping blocks as before described and is solely supported from said plate with its lower end elevated above the base as indicated by the dotted out line of a can in said Fig. 1.

The plate is now turned down to its horizontal position and the central lever is turned to rotate the cutting mechanism in the direction required to cause the same to gradually descend and cut a circular portion out of the top of the can.

When the out is completed, the direction of rotation is reversed, and the cutting mechanism is elevated to its former position with the lug, 33, locked in the groove, 14.

The side lever is operated to partially rotate the upper plate to move the clamping blocks outwardly to release theopened can and the plate is again tilted to its perpendicular position in readiness for the next can.

By locking the knife to the clamping block through the inter-fitting of the lug, 33, in the groove, t4, the knife is automatically adjusted to its proper cutting position by the radial movement of the clamping block in its slot.

While I have herein described a certain method of constructing and assembling the elements of my invention, it is understood that I may vary the construction in minor details not departing from the spirit of my invention.

The knife when properly adjusted cuts the top of the can in a circle close to the cylindrical side wall of the can and also bends the annular margin exterior to the circular cut portion down and against the interior of the cylindrical side wall there by adapting the opened can when emptied of its contents for use as a receptacle or cup in which various articles may be placed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to be new and patentable is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a suitable support, a tiltable lower plate pivoted to said support, an upper plate arranged above the lower plate and partially revoluble thereon, means for revolving said upper plate, said lower plate having radial slots and said upper plate being provided with cam slots, a cam clamping mechanism having clamping blocks slidably mounted in the radial slots and provided with upstanding pins slidably projecting into the cam slots of the upper plate and a hand lever for partially rotating the upper plate,

a can cutting mechanism centrally mounted in the lower plate, and a lever for rotating said can cutting mechanism.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a suitable support of a tiltable plate pivoted to said support, cutting mechanism rotatably mounted in said plate, and having an adjustable cutting knife and clamping mechanism carried by said plate and having a series of clamping blocks arranged around the cutting mechanism, one of said clamping blocks being adapted to be locked to the adjustable cutting knife.

3. In a machine of the class described, a suitable support, a tiltable lower plate pivoted to said support, an upper plate ar ranged above the lower plate and partially revoluble thereon, means for revolving said upper plate, said lower plate having radial slots and said upper plate being provided with cam slots, a can clamping mechanism having clamping blocks slidably mounted in the radial slots and provided with upstanding pins slidably projecting into the ca: slots of the upper plate and a hand lever for partially rotating the upper plate, a can cutting mechanism centrally mounted in the 7 suitable support,

lower plate and having an adjustable cutting knife adapted to be locked to one of the clamping blocks, and a lever for rotating said can cutting mechanism.

4. In machine 01" the class described, a suitable support, a tiltable lower plate pivoted to said support, an upper plate arranged above the lower plate and partially revoluble thereon, means for revolving said upper plate, said lower plate having'radial slots and said upper plate being provided with cam slots, a can clamping mechanism having clamping blocks slidably mounted in the radial slots and provided with upstanding pins slidably projecting into the cam slots of the upper plate and a hand lever for partially rotating the upper plate, a can cutting mechanism centrally mounted in the lower plate and having an adjustable cutting knife provided with an end lug and an inner extension on one of the clamping blocks having a groove in. which said end lug is adapted to lock, and a lever for rotating said can cutting mechanism.

5. In a machine of the class described, a a tiltable lower plate pivoted to said support and provided with a center bearing, radial slots, and a rack of teeth on a portion of its periphery, an upper plate mounted over the lower plate and partially rotatable thereon, said upper plate being provided with cam slots and a side extension, a hand lever pivoted to the side extension and having teeth around its inner end adapted to mesh with the teeth on the periphery of the lower 'plate, clamping blocks slidably fitted in the radial slots of the lower plate, and h.ving pins slidably projecting into the cam slots of the upper plate, a rotatable cutting mechanism sup ported in the center bearing of the lower plate and a hand lever for rotating said cutting mechanism.

6. In a machine of the class described, a suitable support, a tiltable lower plate pivoted to' said support and provided with a center bearing, radial slots, and a rack of teeth on a portion of its periphery, an upper plate mounted over the lower plate and partially rotatable thereon, said upper plate being provided with cam slots and a side extension, a hand lever pivoted to the side extension and having teeth around its inner end adapted to mesh with the teeth on the periphery of the lower plate, clamping blocks slidably fitted in the radial slots of the lower plate and having pins slidably projecting into the cam slots of the upper plate, a rotatable cutting mechanism supported in the center bearing of the lower plate, said center bearing being internally screw-threaded and said cutting mechanism having an externally screw-threaded shaft adapted to screw in said center bearing whereby the cutting mechanism is raised or lowered as it is rotated, and a hand lever for rotating said cutting mechanism.

7. In a machine of the class described, a suitable support, atiltable lower plate pivoted to said support and provided with a center bearing, radial slots, and a rack of teeth on a portion of its periphery, an upper plate mounted over the lower plate and partially rotatable thereon, said upper plate being provided with cam slots and'a side eX- tension, a hand lever pivoted to the side eX tension and having teeth around its inner end adaptedto mesh with the teeth on the periphery of the lower plate, clamping blocks slidably fitted in the radial slots of the lower plate and having pins slidably projecting into the cam slots of the upper plate, a rotatable cutting mechanism sup ported in the center bearing of the lower plate and adapted to be adjusted vertically by its rotation, and a hand lever for rotating said cutting mechanism.

8. In a machine of the class described, a vertical support having horizontal forwardly curving oppositely extending side arms, and a plate pivoted at its edge to the upper extremity of the support between the side arms, said plate being adapted to be tilted from a perpendicular position to a horizontal position and to be supported against lateral movement when in its horizontal position by the side arms.

9. In a machine of the class described, a I

vertical support having horizontal forwardly curving oppositely extending side arms, and a plate pivoted at its edge to the upper extremity of the support between the posite sides of the outer extremities of the side arms, said plate being adapted to be side arms.

tilted from a perpendicular position to a horizontal position and to be supported DEXTER GOODALE' against lateral movement When in its hori- Witnesses:

zontal position by the side arms and depend- OTTO WERNER, ing lugs on the plate adapted to lap on op- A. M. Down.

Copies of this patent may be obtained'for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

